Car Broke Down in Durham? What to Do Next

1. Get safe before anything else

Signal, and if the car is still moving, steer onto the shoulder or the nearest side street, as far from traffic as you can. Turn on your hazard lights. On a busy road like the Durham Freeway it is usually safer to stay buckled in with the doors locked than to stand beside the car. If you do get out, use the side away from traffic.

2. Notice what happened

Before you call anyone, take a moment to remember what the car did. Did a warning light come on? Did the temperature gauge climb? Was there a noise, a smell or smoke? Did it stall, or refuse to restart? These details help us find the problem much faster than starting from scratch.

3. Call for a tow

Our towing partners run around the clock, seven days a week:

• Lee’s Towing: 919-382-5583
• Dave’s Tow-Away Inc: 919-544-7152

Ask them to bring the car to Neal’s Garage at 1907 West Markham Avenue. If it’s after hours, the car will be waiting for us when we open. More details are on our 24-hour towing page.

4. Let us know it’s coming

Call us at 919-286-1167 during business hours and tell us what you noticed. If the repair will take a while, ask about a complimentary loaner car so your week doesn’t stop with your car.

Common causes we see

• A battery that finally gave out — often with warning signs beforehand. See 7 signs your car battery is dying.
• Overheating, usually from old coolant or a leak. See what to do if your car overheats.
• A problem flagged by the check engine light that was left too long.
• A flat or damaged tire — our free tire inspection helps catch wear before it fails.

Many breakdowns are preventable. The free multi-point inspection we do on every service visit is designed to catch worn belts, low fluids and tired batteries before they leave you on the shoulder.